With a hat-trick of assists it would be easy to pinpoint Jota as the key to Celtic’s emergence from a tricky Dingwall fixture with all three points.

The Portuguese winger was central to the attacking performance of Ange Postecoglou’s side and, on the back of his goal against Aberdeen in the league’s curtain-raiser, underlined just why his signature on a permanent basis this summer was integral to Celtic’s transfer business.

The likelihood is that it is not the only game this season where Jota will hog some of the headlines.

He had a bit of competition in that respect, too, from debutant Moritz Jenz whose header eased the tension significantly against Ross County.

The defender enjoyed his moment as he announced himself firmly to the Celtic support with some intrigue now as to whether or not he stays in the side when Stephen Welsh and Carl Starfelt are both fit and available.

But in among the hubbub of debutants scoring goals and Jota showing off his footwork, there was a moment when Joe Hart underlined his value to Celtic.

With the scores at 1-1 a free-kick from Owura Edwards – with Kyogu Furuhashi handed the short straw of crouching behind the wall – brought out an impressive stop from Hart.

It was all the more so since he saw the direction of the ball very late; the premature celebrations of the home support behind his goal would suggest just how late.

Celtic Way:

At big moments, big keepers make the difference. At times last season Hart’s saves – like the one to deny Scott Arfield in the late stages of the final derby meeting of the season – have made for big outcomes.

The save on Saturday might slip under the radar but it was a pivotal moment in what threatened to become a stodgy game. Celtic’s chances and possession would warrant an argument that they would have had enough of a response to come back but moments such as those are game-changers and tone-changers.

Hart’s leadership skills and experience made him one of the key players last term as Celtic enjoyed the stingiest defensive record in the league. The fragility that had undermined performances the previous season was banished and, although there yet remains a question mark at set-pieces, Hart is undoubtedly one of the critical components in the spine of Postecoglou’s side.

Capped 75 times for England, there is still a boyishness to Hart as he gushes over his credentials. Despite his years within the game and the magnitude of the level he has played, he retains an enthusiasm that is not an affectation, as evidenced by his celebratory scenes as Celtic won the title last term. A quick look at his social media accounts confirms just how at home he is in Glasgow.

As Celtic prepare for their first proper appearance in the Champions League since 2017, Hart will be vital to how they cope with the group stages.

He cannot be expected to do the impossible given the quality that the club will find themselves up against but those of a betting persuasion would fancy that there will be one or two of those big moments in there.